🍝 Slow-Cooked Lamb Ragu… The Ultimate Comfort Food!

✨ Rich, hearty, and packed with deep Italian flavors, this Slow-Cooked Lamb Ragu is the kind of meal that brings everyone to the table. Tender lamb is slowly braised until it falls apart effortlessly, then combined with a rich tomato sauce and tossed through pasta for the ultimate comfort dish. Finished with a generous sprinkle of Parmesan, every bite is pure perfection. ✨

⏱️ Recipe Information

🕒 Prep Time: 20 minutes

🔥 Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

⏳ Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Servings: 6

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🛒 Ingredients

* 3 tbsp olive oil

* 1.2 kg butterflied lamb leg, cut into 4 pieces

* Salt and black pepper, to taste

* 1 brown onion, finely diced

* 1 cup carrot, finely diced

* 1 cup celery, finely diced

* 3 garlic cloves, minced

* ¾ tsp dried thyme

* 3 tbsp tomato paste

* 250 ml red wine

* 500 ml beef stock

* 800 g diced tomatoes

* 500 g cooked pasta (Rigatoni or Pappardelle recommended)

* Freshly grated Parmesan, for serving

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👨‍🍳 Instructions

1️⃣ Heat the olive oil in a large ovenproof pot and sear the lamb on all sides until beautifully browned. Remove and set aside.

2️⃣ Add the onion, carrot, and celery to the pot and cook until softened.

3️⃣ Stir in the garlic, thyme, and tomato paste, cooking for another minute until fragrant.

4️⃣ Pour in the red wine and allow it to simmer for a few minutes.

5️⃣ Add the beef stock and diced tomatoes, stirring well to combine.

6️⃣ Return the lamb to the pot, cover tightly, and bake in a preheated oven at 160°C (320°F) for 2½ hours.

7️⃣ Remove the lamb and shred it using two forks, then return the meat to the sauce.

8️⃣ Toss the sauce with the cooked pasta. Add a splash of pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.

9️⃣ Serve hot with plenty of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

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🍽️ Tips for Success

✔️ Large pasta shapes like Rigatoni or Pappardelle work best for holding the rich sauce.

✔️ The ragu tastes even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop.

✔️ If the sauce becomes too thick, add a little pasta water or extra stock.

✔️ This recipe freezes beautifully, making it perfect for meal prep.

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😍 The Result

A luxurious Italian-style pasta dish featuring melt-in-your-mouth lamb, a rich slow-cooked tomato sauce, and perfectly coated pasta. It’s cozy, satisfying, and guaranteed to impress family and guests alike.